Reviews

Van Morrison- Moondance (Deluxe Edition 4CDs + Blu-Ray 2013)
Moondance surround-sound edition is worth the price of moonrocks
For the last 15 years or so I’ve been constantly checking everywhere for a re-mastered release of this masterpiece title (see chaztoronto list of Masterpiece Albums) and truth be told the long wait was indeed worth it.
And how! Not only does this current release surpass in brilliant stereo re-mastering clarity but also includes 5.1 surround-sound mixes, which in itself is worth the price I have paid. That is to say that after my listening experience to this version I admit that I would gladly pay twice the price! However, I am a shrewd shopper who has the time to check out many sites nonetheless I usually find the most reasonable pricing comes from ImportCDs through amazon.ca.

The stereo mixes are pure digital with the surprisingly difference being that it delivers all the warmness of early vinyl (analogue) sound. ‘Nuff said.
And yet the real gems in this deluxe edition are the surround sound mixes (kudos to the engineer!) These (re)mixes are pure ear candy: the tracks contain a full spectrum of sound (lacking neither in highs, midrange or bottom-end) as well as a full separation of 5 channels+ sub-woofer. The sax solos stream into your right ear while the keyboards play in your left ear. Vocals are correctly soundstaged in your center speaker while the bass fills up your entire room!

In my entire collection of over 60 surround-sound titles, only a few albums can truly boast of ‘true’ surround sound and as such, Moondance will be rated at the very top together with the equally brilliant Eagles “Hell Freezes Over” and Queen “A Night At The Opera” 5.1 surround-sound versions.
Having said that, not everything is perfect. The one and only disappointment I experienced was the sound of the ‘foghorn’ from the track Into The Mystic. The stereo mix captures the realistic deepness of the foghorn in a way that you feel almost like being there but in the surround mix the foghorn sound is sadly weak, thereby quite losing its prominence.
(Note: the product description on amazon.ca notes this release as 48K 24 bit. This is an error and should be noted as: 192kHz/ 24Bit.)

Thank you for this fine piece of music, Mr. Morrison. Can we expect surround-sound versions of Tupelo Honey or TB Sheets in the near future?
As an ending to this comment I will now quote one of Van The Man’s album title: BlowinYour Mind is a pretty good description of what will happen every time you listen to this release of Moondance.
And so, I’m good for the next 15 years……
Chaztoronto: for what its worth

DEEP PURPLE-stockholm 1970 (3-DISC
Many versions, but this one’s the deepest purple!
In my DeePurple collection built over the years since 1970 when I first heard Wring That Neck and Mandrake Root on the airwaves, I have several releases of this particular title.
Yet this import CD is the most superior of them all for the simple fact that the audio quality has been superbly re-mastered as best as current technology permits.
If you enjoy live recordings from the early stages of this band (Mach 1 to 2), then assuredly you will be pleased with this release, no matter what version you get. To say the least, it’s Deep Purple at their very best- back then!
But wait! If you continue reading this, there is an even better revelation:
One of the discs is a DVD which contains extremely rare performances of Mandrake Root, Wring That Neck among others. The video has been definitely cleaned up, judging from the previous older footage that I have watched from my DVD collection.
And so, the price alone you pay for this item is worth every dollar when you watch the DVD!

Chaztoronto: for what its worth

Deepest Purple: 30th Anniversary Edition
ANALOGUE versions on Vinyl, Cassette and CD, but now the DIGITAL re-mastered CD rules!
Again, I must boast of my DeePurple collection since I own over 50 various recordings from this band from Mach 1 to the late 80’s.
Bootlegs included.
This title has been released in its many media formats granting that I was always partial to the vinyl record.
Although this is a compilation of ‘hits’ taken from various albums, I must admit I still enjoy throwing it on the platter every now and then. The good thing to come from listening to Deepest Purple is that every song makes you want to dig up the original album and listen to its entirety again.
However, since I received this re-mastered version, I will say that not only is this release worthy of the superior ‘remasters’ obtained from the individual re-mastered albums, it also contains a second disc which is the DVD, which I my opinion is truly worth the price I paid.
Watching the band perform their deepest-purpled songs live is in itself a wonderful experience.
Hence, if you enjoy this band’s music, then get this release if only for the DVD!

Chaztoronto: for what its worth